BUDGET

Strategy was appropriate to the first subject of debate, the Accounts and the Pension Fund. In 2012, the Accounts showed a surplus of £241,814. This resulted from a significant fall in expenditure with less demand on the Emerging Building Grants budget, some curacies ending earlier than expected, little expenditure on web development and reduced costs associated with the Glenalmond Youth Weeks. With regard to capital resources, the funds held in the General Account had increased by more than £2 million to a figure of over £21 million. In the coming year the Standing Committee would focus on the continuing process of the Whole Church Mission and Ministry Policy.

Investment income had fallen dramatically and the Synod's finances were heavily dependent on it, with approximately two-thirds derived from it. No increase was expected in the coming year. In past years, reduction in expenditure had been achieved by a moratorium on building grants.

Provincial Quota was increased by 3 per cent, which compared with the current rate of RPI of 2.9 per cent. It was difficult to envisage a significant reduction of inflation for the foreseeable future.

PENSIONS

A consultation had been carried out in relation to the Pension Fund, in particular its affordability and sustainability. The cost was reaching a level which might not be affordable if benefits continued at current levels, despite recent significant financial improvement of the Fund. Responses to a consultation paper sent to stipendiary clergy had been helpful, with half of the respondents considering the maximum total employer contributions affordable for the future to be 35 per cent of stipend. Of the respondents, 65 per cent were against the introduction of a member's contribution and 75 per cent supported the notion of enabling a reduction of the ongoing underlying contribution rate by increasing the normal pensionable age to 67 and limiting future pensionable stipend growth to not more than increases in RPI. The Synod accepted this change, which would take effect only in relation to future service after the date of change in January 2014. Concern was expressed about the fitness of some priests to work beyond the age of 65, while the Primus was of the view that clergy should be prepared, if necessary, to move to ensure that the demands of ministry matched their energy levels. Retirement at 65 would still be possible, but actuarial reduction would apply.

MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS

The figures over the past five years had showed a decline in membership of 15 per cent. However, most recent figures for the past 12 months indicated that the decline had slowed down and, to some extent, had been stemmed. There were ‘good news’ stories which resulted from good local leadership and deeply committed people. There had also been a mood change: the Church was now a story of confidence regained, of missional challenges embraced and of a growing sense of its place in Scotland now and in the future. But it was the institutional life of the Church which was embodied in stewardship, paid stipends and sustained buildings; and that institutional life was constantly under pressure from influences such as changing work patterns, school games and seven-day shopping.

CANONICAL CHANGES

In 2012 a new Canon 66 had been passed altering the authorisation of certain kinds of lay ministry; a resolution was also passed altering Canon 50 to include in diocesan synods such persons as might be authorised under Canon 66 and whom the bishops deemed appropriate to become members by virtue of their sphere of duty. This resolution was now passed for a second time.

Another canonical alteration coming up for second reading was the provision in Canon 53 for the Episcopal Synod to have discretion to award reasonable expenses to parties in appeals against the decisions of a bishop. This was passed, subject to a slight amendment which made explicit a power which was already implicit. The Episcopal Synod was also given power to dispense with the hearing of an appeal at the request of parties.

A canonical alteration which came up for the first time was to Sections 1 and 6 of Canon 63. This was a tidying up of procedures for electing lay representatives; it passed without discussion.

ALTERATIONS TO THE CALENDAR

Saints days are given different ranks in the Calendar, and it was proposed that the celebration of St James of Jerusalem be moved from category 6 to category 4 – that is, a ‘red letter day’. The effect of this would be that, whenever the day clashed with that of another celebration of lower ranking, St James would enjoy precedence. This was approved nem con. The Synod then approved the change of date of consecration of St Boisil, Prior of Melrose, from August 7 to July 7 at the request of Episcopalians in the Scottish Borders.

A further change proposed was to the description of the Fifth and Sixth Sundays of Lent; these are described differently in different places, and the proposal was to describe them in future in all places as The Fifth Sunday of Lent (‘Passion Sunday; the beginning of Passiontide’) and The Sixth Sunday of Lent (‘Palm Sunday; the beginning of Holy Week’). No objection was made to this proposal.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS BOARD

Discussion took place about the increased coverage which the Church was receiving in the Press; the Convener of the Board suggested that greater engagement with public issues in the life of Scotland was desirable. He wished to encourage members to engage creatively with the Press. A sub-group of the Board had begun to work towards a new website, with the expectation that it would be launched in the following year. Writing to the Press on appropriate subjects was desirable.

ANGLICAN CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL

The Secretary General reported that the Scottish Episcopal Church was the only province to have made the decision not to adopt the Covenant. The impression was that the Covenant would in coming years fade as a major item on the agenda of the Communion. It was suggested that in evaluating the meetings of Anglican Consultative Council it was appropriate to consider whether clear outcomes resulted and whether the building of trust in relationships had helped the development of provinces and contributed to the life of the Communion.

SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS

While the Scottish Church had decided not to adopt the Covenant, it had continued to fulfil wholeheartedly its commitment to the Communion. The assumption that provinces internally were of one mind on human sexuality was false. The Scottish Episcopal Church was a diverse Church. The Government in Scotland was bringing forward proposals for same-sex marriage and there was a need to decide how to respond to that. Many different ideas were expressed as to how the Church should proceed; it was felt that the process should be inclusive, transparent and respect different opinions.

THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH (TISEC)

Changes had been made in 2012 to introduce better practice into the governance of TISEC. There had now been an inspection to assess whether an institution such as TISEC was ‘fit for purpose’ against a formidable list of 16 criteria. Seven of the criteria were judged as ‘confidence’, another seven as ‘confidence with qualifications’ and two as ‘no confidence’. TISEC had therefore been judged as ‘fit for purpose’. The outcome of ‘no confidence’ in relation to two criteria meant that there were aspects of the institution's life which were not satisfactory practice. All the recommendations would have to be implemented by the start of the academic year 2013. It was important that the quality of the Church's training matched the strength of its missional aspiration. Proposals to effect changes to the Digest of Resolutions arising from the recommendations were passed.

THE LIVING WAGE

A motion that this Synod – recognising that the widening gap between rich and poor harms all of society, that in-work poverty is now more common than out-of-work poverty and that paying a living wage can lift people out of poverty – (a) affirm the Christian values inherent in the concept of the living wage; and (b) strongly encourage all Scottish Episcopal Church bodies and congregations to pay at least that ‘living wage’ was proposed and passed nem con.

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

A paper regarding ethical investment and ethical banking which had been prepared by the Church in Society Committee and Investment Committee was welcomed by the Synod.

CHURCH OF ALL GROUP

Three motions were passed affirming and supporting the work and aims of the Church of All Group in relation to inclusivity:

DIACONATE WORKING PARTY

The Working Party Report of 2012 had been sent for consultation to the wider Church. The Group had looked hard at a training curriculum for a distinctive diaconate; it still had various pieces of work to complete. The Synod affirmed its work and recommended that the Group continue for a further three years.